Automatic shut-off device for gas in case of fire



' Feb; 1, 1927;

AUTOMATIC SHUT- Filed Avril 5, 1925 xn-roxPn/fr Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

eena wrrirn GEMMEL WILSON, or ELIZABETH, new JEnsnY, assrelvon ToEvEaLAsrrrne VALVE COMPANY, or JERSEY CITY, JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW AUTOMATIC SHUT-err nnvrcnron eas'nvcase or FIRE.

' Application filed April s, 1925. serial No. 20,454.

This invention relates toan automatic shut-off device for gas in case offire.

The object of the invention is to produce a simple and durable devicefor installation in gas conduit; whereby, in case of fire, flow of gasin the conduit will be automatically prevented. This invention isapplicable to gas mains entrant into buildings; and to gas pipesavitlnnbuildings for illuminating and power purposes and for ga ranges, heatersand other purposes. By automatically sealing a gas conduit in case oftire, more or less serious gas explosions are prevented and fireriskslreduced.

In theaccompanying drawing forming a part her-eofzand illustrating twodifierent forms of my invention:

1 is a vertical, central,sectional View of one form of my new automaticgas shutor"? device shown as a union between gas pipe sections.

Fig.2 is a vertical, central, sectional View of another form of saiddevice coupling gas pipe. sections. i i

'3 is a horizontalsection at line ofFig.1.

/ Referririg to the illustrated forms of the invention and first tothatform shown in Figs. 1 and 3, my new device consists of a chamberedunion having a flat top wall, 2, alinedly opposed, spaced apart neckconduits 3 and a downwardly extending bottom lwhich forms a pocket belowthe level. of the necks 3. Each neck 3 is in threaded connection througha connecting sleeve 1) with a gas pipe section (1,. The upper wall ofthe device is shown in Fig. 1 provided with a plurality of vertical,threaded openings 5. From the top and side walls of the union atransverse web 6 extends downwardly below the level of the necks 3 andpart way to the bottom of the pocket formed by the downward extension ofthe bottom wall 4. 1

Normally the gas-way is through one conduit neck 3 towards a .side wallof the web 6 and downwardly past the underedge of the web and thenceupwardly to the other side of the web and out through the other gasconduit neck 3.

Into each threaded opening at 5 there is threaded a vertical fusiblemetal holder 7 in the form of an inverted cup and provided atitsbottonropcningor mouth with inwardly progecting lugs a: which serveto protect the packing of fusible metal 8 in each of the holders.

' The fusible metal is-preforably in shredded form and packed solidlyinthe holders wherein it will, remain in the absence of heat sutlicient tomelt it for a long period, practically during the life of the device.Each to and spaced apart from the gasavay. and

open ends of the holders being elevated relatively to the interior wallsof the gas necks sufficiently to permit unobstructed flow of gas fromone pipe section to; another through the union solong as the fusiblemetal remains unmelted.

In caseof fire sutlicient to heat the holder 1 7' and the masses offusible metal 8 in the holders to a temperature sufficient to melt thefusible'metal, it flows downwardly when melted into the pocket formedby-the clownwardly extending bottom wall 4: and sub merges, the underend portion of-the transverse web 6 in molded, fusible metal 8.Thus,-.the gas-way through the device is automatically sealed or dammedand flow of gas from one pipe section toanother through the device orunion is absolutely prevented. The fused metal will naturally-solidifyon cooling and usually after a fire the device will not be removed untilafter the metal has cooled and solidified.

In addition to the above stated advan tage of automatically sealing thegas-way of the device against flow of gas during a fire, anotherimportant advantage is that the device when removed may be returned to amanufacturer to be freed of the seal-forming metal 8 and for reloadingof the fusible metal holders 7.-

While a plurality of holders 7 is indicated in Fig. 1, only one isessential together with its charge 8 of-fusible metal. However, I showin Fig. 2 another form of the device in which there is only one holder 7and one charge 8 of fusible metal. The form of the device or couplingshown in Fig. 2 is identical in principle with that illustrated in Figs.1 and 8, but is d'lferently constructed.

chambered portion of the device, the under and l", each having a gasconduit neck at its 7 and' electric upper portion in threaded connectionat 5 with a gas pipe secllon a, the under ends of the two heads 4: and 4are each in-threaded sleeve is wound with the electric resistance coil10, one terminal of which is indicated by 11 and the other by 12. Ifasuitable :electric current is passed through a resistance coillO, thetemperature of the sleeve and of the holder which is preferably of brassmay be raised suiiiciently to melt the fusible metal 8 and therebypermit theauto- "matic sealing of the gas-way from any desired distanceon place.

What I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a gas conduit memberformed with agas-Way and 'a removable chambered holder closed at its upper end andhaving anopen, under end V in jointed connection with walls-of anopenill) ing in the upper portion of theconduit member, said holdercontaining a mass of fusible metal exposed to and spaced apart from andabove the gaswvay; the gas-way being formed to receive the fusible metalwhen melted and thereby seal the gas-way agai-nst fiow of gas throughthe gas-way.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a gas conduit member formed with agas-way and a removable chambered holderfcontaining a mass of fusiblemetal exposed to and spaced apart from and above the gas-way; the gas-,

Way being formed to receive the fusible metal when melted and therebyseal the gas way against flow of gas through thev gasway; the under endof'the holder being. open and the holder being provided at its under endportion with inwardly projecting means for retaining within it thefusible metal until melted.

8. The combination with a gas conduit member formed with a gas-way and achambered holder containing a mass of fusible metal exposed to andspaced apart from and above the gas-way; the gas-way being 7 formed toreceive the fusible metal when melted and thereby seal the gas-wayagainst flow of gas through the gasnvay; of a heat resisting electricresistance coil support and said coil for raising, at the will of anoperator the temperature of said coil to a degree sufficient to melt thefusible metal, the coil support being mounted on said holder and thecoil surrounding the support and the support surrounding the holder.

4. The combination with a gas conduit member formed with a gas-way and achammetal exposed to and spaced apart from and above the gas-way; thegas-way being formed to receive the fusible metal when melted andtherebyseal the gas-Way against flow ofgas through the gas-way; a heatresisting electricresistance coil support and said coil for raising, atthe will of an operator, the temperature of said coil to a degreesufficient to melt the fusible metal, the coil support being mounted onsaid holder and the 'coilsurroundingthe support and the supportsurrounding the holder.

iigned at Jersey City, State .of New Jersey, this th day of March A. D.1925. WYLIE GEMMEL- WILSON.

,7 bered holder containing amass of fusible,

